Offering invaluable insights for plumbing and heating businesses.
Aaron is excited to bring The Systems Handbook to the table. This book dives into mastering business dynamics, with a particular focus on the plumbing and heating industry. By prioritising systematisation, he aims to help businesses achieve the consistency and efficiency needed to thrive in today’s competitive market. The Systems Handbook is positioned as an invaluable, logical resource for setting plumbing and heating businesses up for lasting stress-free success.
Aaron McLeish didn’t grow up quietly. One of six siblings in a busy household, his early years were full of energy, questions, and an insatiable drive to understand the world around him. “Why?” was the soundtrack of his childhood—followed closely by the sounds of building, experimenting, and pushing limits.
His upbringing, surrounded by three older brothers and two younger sisters, was far from dull. Creative games, makeshift inventions, and chaotic fun filled his days. But it wasn’t just play—it was preparation.
Aaron McLeish’s first exposure to business came from watching his mum build something of her own. With six kids to care for, she couldn’t follow a conventional working life. Instead, she opened a shop in Wellingborough. Aaron saw it all unfold: empty shelves turned to stock, paper ledgers turned into business decisions. He witnessed firsthand what it took to make something work—and it lit a fire that never went out.
Aaron McLeish didn’t grow up quietly. One of six siblings in a busy household, his early years were full of energy, questions, and an insatiable drive to understand the world around him. “Why?” was the soundtrack of his childhood—followed closely by the sounds of building, experimenting, and pushing limits.
His upbringing, surrounded by three older brothers and two younger sisters, was far from dull. Creative games, makeshift inventions, and chaotic fun filled his days. But it wasn’t just play—it was preparation.
Aaron McLeish’s first exposure to business came from watching his mum build something of her own. With six kids to care for, she couldn’t follow a conventional working life. Instead, she opened a shop in Wellingborough. Aaron saw it all unfold: empty shelves turned to stock, paper ledgers turned into business decisions. He witnessed firsthand what it took to make something work—and it lit a fire that never went out.
Business wasn’t something Aaron McLeish discovered in adulthood. It started at school, with ice poles.
He’d buy them for 5p and sell them at school for 50p. The first few batches melted. But he adapted—bagged them better, brought more, and found a way to keep them cold. Soon enough, he had the pockets of a businessman and the mindset to match.
Inevitably, someone tried to copy him, kicking off what he now calls his first “patch war.” But it taught him about competition, pricing, margins—and how to outthink a rival.
In Aaron McLeish’s eyes, the joy came not from the money, but from creating something, refining it, and making it work.
Academically, Aaron McLeish always landed in top sets. Back then, he assumed it was a tactic to keep him away from his mates. Only later did he realise it was because he had something to offer.
After achieving strong GCSEs, he changed schools for A-Levels—craving a fresh start and a new sense of direction.
While his friends stepped into trades or local roles, Aaron McLeish looked for a different path. He wasn’t sold on university, especially the debt that came with it. Instead, he looked for a profession where he could earn while he learned.
That’s when accountancy came into focus.
He discovered you didn’t need a degree to become an accountant. He could study one day a week while gaining real business experience. It offered structure, growth, and the chance to see how businesses truly functioned—from the inside.
Aaron McLeish started his professional journey at a small accountancy firm in Wellingborough. With just a hand full of partners and team members, it offered a tight-knit environment to learn the ropes. But he wanted more.
So he moved to Moore Stephens, a top-tier firm, to broaden his knowledge. Here, he worked across accounts, VAT, payroll, self-assessments, and business advice. But generalist work wasn’t enough. He wanted to go deeper. After a few more career moves that’s when he made a leap—taking on the role of Finance Director at one of the South East’s largest independent plumbing and heating firms. It was a fast-moving, multi-million-pound operation with everything from renewables to installations.
This role gave Aaron McLeish what he’d been looking for: insight into real business challenges. Cash flow. Wages. Supplier terms. Daily financial firefighting. The stress of running something big—and the systems that made it possible.
Aaron McLeish didn’t just throw in the towel and start a business. He built Together We Count bit by bit, while still working full-time as a Finance Director. There were no safety nets, just late nights, early mornings, and a belief that there was a better way to support trades.
Eventually, the business had legs. He cut back working a full time job from five days, four days, then three, then two—until Together We Count stood on its own.
Interestingly, his first hire wasn’t another accountant. It was a PA. Someone to free him up from admin and amplify the brand. Because in Aaron McLeish’s view, visibility is as vital as the numbers themselves.
And from day one, he committed to one trade only: plumbing and heating. Why? Because he understood it better than most. He’d lived it. He knew the margins, the pressures, the unpredictability.
That lived experience now runs through the heart of Together We Count. It’s not just about compliance. It’s about helping tradespeople build something solid.
policies, contracts, calculators. Aaron McLeish realised the value in what he’d already been building behind the scenes.
That’s how Together We Build came to life.
It’s a digital platform stacked with hundreds of tools and templates, purpose-built for plumbing and heating businesses. From pricing calculators to employee contract examples—it’s all there.
Where Together We Count brings clarity to your numbers, Together We Build brings order to your operations.
In 2020, Aaron McLeish used the quieter lockdown evenings to put pen to paper. The result? The Quote Handbook.
He’d seen pricing mistakes time and time again—where trades priced based on parts and labour, without factoring in value. He took what he’d learnt from a key mentor, Mark Wickersham and made it practical for trades.
The book gives plumbing and heating businesses a roadmap to quote better, win more work, and increase margins. And it’s already helped hundreds to do exactly that.
Then came the second: The Systems Handbook.
Here, Aaron McLeish tackled what’s often ignored—systems. SOPs. Delegation. How to run a business that doesn’t rely on you 24/7. He drew from The E-Myth, his own playbook, and dozens of client experiences.
It’s written for trades who want to reduce stress, scale up, and stop everything falling back on their own shoulders.
These days, Aaron McLeish splits his time between leading the team, guiding clients, building new resources, and spending time with his daughter, Lola.
He’s based in Sheffield. Keeps fit with CrossFit. Grows veg in his garden. Runs with his dog. And he’s never far from a good pub meal or spontaneous weekend plan.
Business plays a big role in his life—but not the only role.
Aaron McLeish has no plans to slow down. Together We Count is tightening its focus, working only with ambitious plumbing and heating companies that are ready to grow.
Together We Build continues to evolve, offering even more to help businesses get systemised and scale smoothly.
And a third book? It’s in the works. But the title stays secret for now.
If you’re running a plumbing and heating business, Aaron McLeish has a few words for you:
And if you’re unsure?
“Just go for it. What’s the worst that could happen?”
In 2024, Aaron McLeish faced one of his biggest personal setbacks. After years of running on empty, he was diagnosed with sleep apnoea. It affected everything—home life, health, even the way he showed up for his team.
He had multiple operations to fix it. During his recovery, a compliance review triggered disciplinary action from his professional body due to missed responses.
It was a difficult time. But he owned the outcome, addressed the problems, and came back with more clarity, accountability, and resilience.
That experience, like everything else, fed back into how Aaron McLeish leads—with empathy, transparency, and a renewed focus on getting things right.
Sarah has been, working closely with Aaron McLeish and Together We Build from the very beginning when Business in a Box was just an idea and The Quote Handbook was being written. As the Resource Manager Sarah oversees the extensive library of resources and manages all subscription aspects, ensuring that each resource is optimised for use by clients in the plumbing and heating industry.
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